''Combat Squad'' is a 1953 American

war film War film is a film genre concerned with warfare, typically about navy, naval, air force, air, or army, land battles, with combat scenes central to the drama. It has been strongly associated with the 20th century. The fateful nature of battle s ...

directed by Cy Roth and starring

John Ireland John Benjamin Ireland (January 30, 1914 – March 21, 1992) was a Canadian-American actor and film director. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia and raised in New York City, he came to prominence with film audiences for his supporting roles i ...

Lon McCallister Herbert Alonzo "Lon" McCallister Jr. (April 17, 1923 – June 11, 2005) was an American actor. According to one obituary, he was best known for "playing gentle, boyish young men from the country."Obituaries: LON MCCALLISTER Anonymous. Variety; L ...

and

Hal March Hal March (born Harold Mendelson; April 22, 1920 – January 19, 1970) was an American comedian, actor, and television quiz show emcee. Early career March entered show business as a straight man in the vaudeville act the Hollywood Rioteers, b ...

. It is set during the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

.Edwards p.63

Plot

Deployed during the Korean War, Sgt. Ken 'Fletch' Fletcher (

) is instructed to inspect an enemy-occupied ledge so that an

observation post An observation post (commonly abbreviated OP), temporary or fixed, is a position from which soldiers can watch enemy movements, to warn of approaching soldiers (such as in trench warfare), or to direct fire. In strict military terminology, an ...

can be built. Following their sergeant's orders, a small

platoon A platoon is a Military organization, military unit typically composed of two to four squads, Section (military unit), sections, or patrols. Platoon organization varies depending on the country and the Military branch, branch, but a platoon can ...

is sent forth, with one of the men being sent out to distract the opposing forces while he is equipped with a flamethrower. After successfully clearing out a cave entrance, the platoon is instructed to reinstate contact with Sgt. Wiley (

Don Haggerty Don Haggerty (July 3, 1914 – August 19, 1988) was an American actor of film and television. Early life and education Haggerty was born in Poughkeepsie, New York. Before he began appearing in films in 1947, Haggerty was a Brown University ...

). However, after one of their members Marley (

Myron Healey Myron Daniel Healey (June 8, 1923 – December 21, 2005) was an American actor. He began his career in Hollywood, California during the early 1940s and eventually made hundreds of appearances in movies and on television during a career span ...

) is shot by an enemy combatant, they are forced to return fire—successfully—without Marley. Following their triumph, a radio transmission sends them back to camp where a small awarding ceremony commences. Back at camp, Sgt. Gordon recruits another platoon before he instructs veteran fighters that they will be going on a night mission. When recovered from his leg injury, Sgt. Wiley helps increase morale, even though he would need assistance. Holding out until morning, Fletch is sent back to investigate a counterattack plan proposed by his regiment. Tasked with eliminating a sniper, a few men in the platoon become casualties after being spotted, which prompts Fletcher to return fire, knocking him out of a tree. Unbeknownst to them, the presence of more snipers leads Sgt. Gordon to kill the final one after his platoon plans briefly. Three men return alive.

Cast

as Sgt. Ken 'Fletch' Fletcher *

as Martin *

as Henry Gordon * George E. Stone as Medic Brown *

Norman Leavitt Norman Turner Leavitt (December 1, 1913 – December 11, 2005) was an American film and television actor. Life and career Leavitt was born in Lansing, Michigan. He began his stage career in 1935, appearing as a wedding guest in the Broa ...

as Fred Jones *

as Marley *

as Sgt. Wiley * Tristram Coffin as Captain Johnson * David Holt as Garvin * Dick Fortune as Kenson * Robert Easton as Lewis * Jill Hollingsworth as Yvonne * Linda Danson as Anne * Neva Gilbert as Virginia * Eileen Howe as Patricia * Dirk Evans as Heroic GI *

Paul Keast Paul may refer to: People * Paul (given name), a given name, including a list of people * Paul (surname), a list of people * Paul the Apostle, an apostle who wrote many of the books of the New Testament * Ray Hildebrand, half of the singing duo P ...

as Colonel *

Bob Peoples Bob Peoples was an American powerlifter and farmer, known for breaking the record for world's heaviest deadlift. Peoples first set the Light-heavyweight deadlift world record in 1946 lifting 651 lbs at a bodyweight of 175 lbs. He later beat his ...

as Wounded GI

References

Bibliography

* Paul M. Edwards. ''A Guide to Films on the Korean War''. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1997.

External links

* 1953 films 1953 war films American war films Columbia Pictures films Korean War films Films scored by Paul Dunlap American black-and-white films 1950s English-language films Films directed by Cy Roth 1950s American films English-language war films {{Korea-war-film-stub